Shannon Sharpe shares how humble beginnings shaped his future when he speaks at Junior League fundraiser

Football fans know the public side of Shannon Sharpe as well as they do the backs of their hands: Twelve seasons with the Denver Broncos, two with the Baltimore Ravens, three Super Bowl wins, election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and an NFL record-holder, until 2008, for having the most receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by a tight end.

What they might not know is what the late radio commentator Paul Harvey would have described as “the rest of the story:” How growing up poor shaped his future and how he credits his grandmother with making him the man he is today.

“Everything I am is because of my grandmother,” Sharpe told the 750 who’d gathered at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center for The Journey, a dinner and auction put on by the Junior League of Denver. The money raised supports the JLD’s ongoing efforts to increase literacy rates in the metro Denver area.

Sharpe revealed that he didn’t learn to read until he was in his early teens and thus supports groups like the JLD as they work to make sure that children have the opportunity and tools to learn how to read at an early age.

The league will also start creating Little Free Libraries in the Denver area — a “take a book, return a book” gathering place where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. “In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book or two and bring back another book to share,” explains JLD president Lisa Lumley.

Mari Marsico and Allie Ingalls chaired The Journey. Special guests included Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and two of Sharpe’s former teammates, Reggie Rivers and Le-Lo Lang.

Mari Marsico’s in-laws, Cydney and Tom Marsico, were principal sponsors of The Journey; Chapter Sponsors were Citywide Banks and Steele Street Bank and Trust. Lauren Whitney, a Junior League member and weather anchor for Media Sponsor CBS4, was mistress of ceremonies.